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Hi! I’m new here and also new at plants. I need help, my boyfriend… | The Orchid Oasis | Planta-community

Nani Caro

Hi! I’m new here and also new at plants. I need help, my boyfriend gifted me an orchid. Can anyone help me ? I want to keep her beautiful and healthy but I fear it’s not starting out great 😭.

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5 reacties

  1. Tineke Freak

    How long have you had it? The flowers look like they’re just at the end. They’ll fall off like normal. I cut the stems after all the flowers have dropped, keep it next to a window and not water it as much as I want to. My orchid seems to do great the more I “forget” about it 😊

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    • Nani Caro

      I got it on Valentine’s Day so less than 10 days I think

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    • MeasomerPi

      The trick with new plants is that you don’t know how long they’ve been in flower. Plus the plants have been relocated to multiple places and they may have experienced dramatic temperature swings. So it’s not unusual for a new plant to drop blooms sooner than you would like. Phalanopsis blooms typically last one to three months, so don’t worry when they start to fade. It’s just part of its natural annual cycle. I also like to cut the inflorescence back to the base of the plant once the final bloom drops. There is a way to try for a second bloom but in my experience the following year flowers tend to be fewer in number and sometimes smaller. However many hobbyists do not experience this. I think the most important thing to keep in mind is orchids like their water but the LOVE for their roots to dry out. The best way to tell is to look at the roots. Green roots = don’t water. Silver roots = watering time. The type of media dictates how I water. I grow most of my Phalanopsis in bark so they dry out reasonably fast in my growing conditions. When the phal is ready for some water, I soak the pot for 10-15 minutes. Each time I water, I use fertilizer at 1/4 strength. Wait until the media dries out (look for silver roots) before watering again. For my setup, that works out to roughly once a week. For plants in sphagnum, I top water only because soaking causes the sphagnum to take in too much water. These orchids usually are ready for water every second week. Again this is based on my growing conditions so watch your plant to determine when it wants water. Once a month flush with pure water to reduce salt buildup (this is especially important if you are using synthetic fertilizer or have hard water). Put your plant in bright but indirect light. Direct sun can burn a phal pretty quickly. Too low and you won’t get blooms. I have mine an a west window that is shaded by landscaping. They get absolutely no direct sun. If the edges of the leaves turn reddish you know you are at the max limit of sun for your plant. Since this is a newly purchased orchid, the media is probably at the end of its useful lifespan. You may want to repot when it’s done blooming. I like to repot mine especially if it’s in sphagnum because I just don’t have luck with growing phals in it. The best tip for orchids is learn. Read up on their care if you are so inclined. There are several channels on YouTube with information on orchid care, like Miss Orchid Girl, Here.. but Not, Hello Plant Lovers and Growing Orchids With Roger. The American Orchid Society is another handy resource. I especially like the monthly to do lists. If you really want to dive into the rabbit hole, you can look for orchid societies in your area; nothing can replace interacting directly with growers that have been doing it for years. Good luck!

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  2. Sharon

    Just wanted to say that for its future blooms, the flowers will likely be a different color. Blue orchids are normally due to the injection of ink/dye

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    • Nani Caro

      Ohh thank you 🙏

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